Are we being taken around the corner? And a 'Hooky' night out...

 Wargaming is a luxury hobby, despite what the kids in the cheap seats say. It's not a cheap hobby as those of us who collect armies and not factions, have known from the outset.

But, are we getting screwed on costs? I think we are.

In the mid-80s an average historical wargaming figure was 35p for a 'top end' model, which would equate now to £1.40 if we follow the same scaling up of values used for other 'non-essential goods'.

Instead we are paying around 6 or 7 times that 4x scaling for historical and I'm 'not going there' with fantasy miniatures. 

The question is, why the fuck are we allowing ourselves to be taken around the corner, our trousers dropped around our ankles and given a Roberting (I have a friend called Roger) without even the courtesy of a 'reach around'?

I know for a fact that I can get 50 castings for around £40 through third party (IE: increased production cost than self- casting) which would allow a good profit margin as a third party reseller.

So, when you look at the big box companies and their pricing structure, whhere they have the economy of scale reducing that cost, we really are getting screwed over. Add into this that many sell oddly sized packs, meaning that we end up with wasted models (unless like me, you use a similar economy of scale and think in terms - as god intended - of proper armies) which further increase our expenses 'per figure' in the big picture.

There are of course exceptions to the rule and you can, with a little careful expenditure of time and effort, get some great deals. Last week, I placed a large order for figures sold in units. I went back this week, and they had increased by 12%, so now I have to look elsewhere for more units, which is annoying. But, there are deals out there to be had.

Unfortunately, some companies think that if they have falling sales, they should increase the prices of their models rather than look at why they have those falling sales - such as lack of advertising or promotion. I know of several companies of beautiful miniatures who are literally unknown by the present gaming generation, which is a loss to both camps. At least one of those companies has simply continued to increase prices to compensate.

And then we look to the fantasy market.

Call a man with a bow a 'Ranger' and you can effectively double the cost of a miniature. WHY?

The days where fanntasy figures were sold in lesser numbers to roleplayers only, are over. Warhammer and Chainmail saw to that, but still we pay  a premium for a Ranger or an Orc. Let's call it what it is - Fucking robbery.

The robbery is compounded when you think that many of your desperately needed model soldiers. Those figures you really needed to buy, are still sitting there in the painting area, untouched, colleting dust. 

You comfort your own stupidity in purchasing them with the old adage that a gamer cannot die whilst they have unpainted figures. 

You're a muppet if you entertain that notion with a even modicum of hope. If you believe that, I have a range of self painting models due out next month...

Start thinking more critically about whether those figures are really giving you value for money. True, they come in a pretty box, but that goes in the bin once the aforementioned muppets have been drawn in by the nice picture (often disguising some pretty fucking second rate models in many cases). 

And now for something different.

The Memsahib is recovering steadily from her heart failure incident, and so our daughter has been doing a lot of driving to allow us to attend the odd event such as the charity even in aid of Support Dogs UK, 'An Evening With Peter Hook'.

As expected the ex-Joy Division/NEw Order bassist was a joy to listen to as he regaled an intimate audience with tales of a life well (if riskily) lived. At the end, there was a charity raffle, and I was surprised to win a stash of goodies, including DVDs, signed book and shirt and much more, which put a bit of icing on the cakeafter 6 weeks of worry and lost holidays. To be able to sit with the most important person in my world, and just smile and enjoy her company was great. Getting a Peter Hook goody bag was almost too much for me...

'Hacienda' socks... Who wouldn't crave these?

TTFN